Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has offered an insight into Virat Kohli’s reaction after the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter was dismissed by Lucknow Super Giants pacer Prince Yadav during the IPL 2026 clash at the Ekana Stadium.

Kohli was bowled for a second-ball duck after Prince Yadav delivered a sharp seaming ball that pitched on a straight seam, jagged back in, and uprooted the off stump. The dismissal immediately became one of the standout moments of the match, with the delivery widely praised for its quality and movement.

Following the dismissal, Kohli appeared visibly stunned and was seen looking at the pitch where the ball had landed, seemingly trying to understand the movement that beat him. Manjrekar later analysed the reaction, saying it reflected the mindset of elite batters who often find it difficult to accept that they were completely outplayed by a delivery.

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Speaking about the incident, Manjrekar compared Kohli’s reaction to that of legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar, particularly during the latter stages of Tendulkar’s career. According to Manjrekar, great batters instinctively look for an external explanation when dismissed by an exceptional ball, often examining the pitch as though something unusual must have happened.

Manjrekar said the reaction reveals the mentality of champion players, whose confidence and belief in their technique are so strong that they initially struggle to process being beaten purely by skill. He suggested that Kohli’s glance at the surface was less about blaming the pitch and more about the natural instinct of a world-class batter trying to decode an extraordinary delivery.

Prince Yadav’s spell played a crucial role in Lucknow Super Giants’s victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The fast bowler finished with figures of 3 for 33, including Kohli’s prized wicket, helping LSG end a six-match winless streak and revive their campaign during a crucial phase of the tournament.

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